The Greek Festival of Sydney will proudly host two very important events for “The Greeks of Tashkent” as part of its program for 2024.
The first is a photographic exhibition presenting rare archival materials, while the second is a talk (in Greek) by Costas Politis, President of the Greek Cultural Centre of Tashkent, who will travel to Sydney especially for these two events.
The Greek Civil War (1946-9) marked the lives of most Greeks and devastated the country. When it was over, 12,000 defeated communist fighters became political refugees taking refuge in Tashkent, the present-day capital of post-Soviet Uzbekistan. They settled in 14 local “Greek towns” and by the 1970s, this exiled community had grown to 35,000 men, women and children. Most of them returned to Greece after the granting of political amnesty in 1981, while some moved to Australia, Canada and the United States following the path of alienation like other members of their families.
Rare photographic material from the archives of the Tashkent Hellenic Cultural Centre will be featured in the photographic exhibition entitled “Greeks of Tashkent” during 14-19 May 2024, at the Luna Studio Art Gallery, 486 King St, Newtown.
Mr Politis, in his upcoming talk (in Greek) at the Greek Community Club (206-210 Lakemba St, Lakemba) on May 15, will delve into the stories of the exiled Greeks of Central Asia, in an effort to portray and research the historical course of a forgotten chapter of the turbulent history of Greece in the 20th century.
“We await with great interest the visit of Costas Politis to Sydney, which will not only give all of us the opportunity to get to know a “forgotten” part of Hellenism abroad, but will also provide the opportunity to strengthen relations between the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW and the Greek Cultural Centre of Tashkent,” President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, Harry Danalis, said.
“We are particularly proud that the Greek Festival of Sydney gives the opportunity to other Greeks of the Diaspora to present the history of their communities through events of quality and intercultural respect,” President of the Greek Festival of Sydney, Nia Karteris, said.
Details of the 1st event:
- Event: “The Greeks of Tashkent” – Photographic Exhibition
- Dates: Tuesday, May 14| 6.30pm, Wednesday May 15 & Thursday May 16 | 12.00pm – 6.00pm,
Friday 17 May & Saturday 18 May | 12.00pm – 10.00pm, Sunday, May 19 | 12.00pm – 6.00pm
- Location: Luna Studio Art Gallery | 465 King St, Newtown, NSW 2042
- Entrance: Free (no charge)
Details of the 2nd event:
- Event: “The Greeks of Tashkent” – Talk in Greek
- Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 | 6.30 pm
- Location: Greek Community Club | 206-210 Lakemba Street, Lakemba, NSW 2195
- Entrance: Free (no charge)
Mr Politis will also join Dr Helen Vatsikopoulos during the Greek-Australian Writers’ Festival on Sunday 19 May 2024 (12:00pm – 12:45pm) for a Visual Story Telling on Greeks of Tashkent at Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, UTS.
For more information on the programme and to book tickets to selected events, please visit www.greekfestivalofsydney.com.au
